Thelma Evelyn Hudson

Thelma Evelyn Williams Hudson, of Odessa, TX, passed away Friday, January 5, 2024, at home. She was 84 years old. She was born August 10, 1939, in Hamlin, TX, to Corbett & Lela Williams. After graduating from Monahans High School in 1958, she met the love of her life, when he came from Pyote Air Force Base, to visit the church she attended. She married Walter Hudson on January 25, 1959, in Monahans. They spent their honeymoon visiting Walter's family in Kansas. Thirteen days after their wedding, Walter was transferred to Indian Mountain Air Force Station, which was a remote radar surveillance station in Alaska. After Walter's military service, they lived in Arkansas, New Mexico, & Texas, where he managed many Western Union locations. Then, they settled in Odessa, TX, where Walter worked in the oil & gas industry for 21 years. Thelma was very talented & took full advantage of her creativity. She owned a dog grooming business, and she made & decorated many wedding cakes, & cakes for all different occasions. She designed & made many quilts, clothing items, and many craft items. She was a master at creating floral arrangements. She also enjoyed woodworking, & building projects. There was nothing she couldn't do. When Walter & Thelma both retired in 1997, Walter began his hobby of creating documents & handouts on his computer, & they sent out hundreds of mailings each month. They sent hundreds of birthday & anniversary cards, etc, each year, & over 300 Christmas cards annually, including personal notes in many of them. For over 25 years, they organized the Williams Family Reunion, sending out numerous letters & reminders to all the family members each year. Walter & Thelma were married for almost 63 years, & for their last 24 years, they were always together. They volunteered for many different organizations. After Walter survived cancer, they spent several years volunteering for the American Cancer Society. Because Alzheimer's had devastated several family members, they facilitated the Alzheimer's Association support group meetings for many years. They were always very active members of their church. They had a ministry of outreach & visitation for over 23 years, often spending 5 or 6 days each week, visiting local hospitals & nursing homes. They both had clergy badges for Medical Center Hospital for many years. They were avid fans of the Odessa Jackalopes & worked as ticket takers for the team for over 21 years. They also worked during many other events at the Ector County Coliseum. Walter & Thelma loved spending time with family, & also traveling, especially going camping. For over 45 years, they always had an RV. They were members of the Good Sam RV Club, & the local Oil City Sams chapter. All their kids had their own campers, & they traveled together on many trips. Everywhere she went, Thelma handed out gospel tracts & individually packaged snack foods. She would sing a song to anyone who would listen. She served the Lord with all her heart, & we know she's in Heaven with all our loved ones who have gone before us. Thelma was a loving wife, Mom, Grandma, & Gigi. She was preceded in death by her husband of almost 63 years: Walter Hudson, her parents: Corbett & Lela Williams, her sisters: Brannon Hale, Myrl Newsom, Margaret Houghton, Dixie Bean, Blanch Williams, her brother: Kennith Williams, & her son-in-law: Allen Wayne Brashier. She was also pre-deceased by several nieces & nephews, including her beloved niece Darleene Morse, who passed away one day before Thelma. Left to cherish her memory are her son & daughter-in-law: Les & Sandy Hudson, of Ruidoso, NM, son & daughter-in-law: Lyndel & Traci Hudson, of Odessa, & daughter: Lori Hudson Brashier, of Odessa. Also surviving are her granddaughter & grandson-in-law: Brook & Morgan Belknap, & great granddaughters: Addison & Sadie, all of Odessa, TX. She is also survived by her sister: Pauline Bates, of Lockhart, TX, & sister-in-law: Diana Williams, of Zwolle, LA. Officiating her service will be Pastor Clydel Chapman. Pallbearers will be Les Hudson, Morgan Belknap, Roy Bean, Kenny Williams, Mel Houghton, & Jimmy Moody. Honorary pallbearers will be John Bates, Jimmy Hurst & Billy Bradley. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, from 6pm - 8pm at American Heritage Funeral Home. Funeral service & burial are scheduled for Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 2pm at American Heritage Funeral Home & Cemetery, located at 4100 N. FM 1788, Midland, TX. Condolences may be posted at www.thehealingstartshere.com

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Thelma Evelyn Hudson

August 10, 1939 - January 5, 2024